J. D. Power & Associates in Agoura...

J. D. Power & Associates in Agoura Hills named Blaise Mercadante as director of the firm’s new industry analysis group. Mercadante was formerly with BBDO Advertising in Los Angeles.

The automotive research firm also said it named Joanne Albrecht Muir as director of research and client development, and John Larson as senior consultant in the firm’s technology practice.

Muir, formerly a vice president at the Michigan-based automotive marketing firm MOR-Pace, will work out of Power’s Detroit office. Larson came to Power from Golder, Thoma & Cressey, an investment firm in Chicago.